Consider the three main parties seperately:Conservatives: Highest 45%; Lowest 21%

Labour: Highest 40%; Lowest 18%

Liberal Democrats: Highest 46%; Lowest 19%

Those who don't vote effectively vote to follow the decision of others, whether electing MPs or deciding on strikes. To ensure higher voter turnouts two things are needed:1) Introduce compulsory voting.2) Include "I Abstain" as a choice on the ballot.

However, we wonder whether MPs really want it known that between 54% and 82% of their constituents did not vote for them?

2 comments:

Interesting data. Under the first past the post system it is always likely that minority candidates will win. It means that to beat the odds, folk have to do tactical voting rather than support the real candidate of their choice. This is to many people is a real moral dilemma. It is surprising that the proportion of the population voting has not fallen further.

I don't think it really compares with strike ballots which are essentially binary rather than having several options. But, even so, if you are in a union and you don't vote, you can't complain.

A democracy is all about voting and making decisions, and those who vote make the decisions and those who don't - don't. it is just a shame we don't have a better election system for parliament.